This weekend, all high school football officials in Washington State will be using blue penalty flags, instead of the ususal yellow ones, to help raise the awareness of prostate cancer. Our associations are contacting local media and schools with press releases for the media and announcements at games. (My local association actually had the flags last Friday night, and used them in honor of "Stand up to Cancer" night. We had many people inquiring what was up and hope that this weekend's activities will put the issue out even more.) As the contact person of my local association, when I send out this information to local media and schools, I strongly point out, that as a prostate cancer survivor, how important I feel it is to get this information our to the public.

I'll be thinking of all of us when I throw one of those blue penalty flags during my game this Friday night.

What a great idea hawkfan! I wish I could come to a game, but we are actually going to be flying out of town on Friday. If there is anyway that I can support, please send me an email. I will definitely be thinking of you on Friday!! Thanks for sharing!Father's Age 62 (now 63)Original Gleason 3+4=7, Post-Op Gleason- 4+3=7, DaVinci Surgery Aug 31, 2007Focally Positive Right Margin, One positive node. T3a N1 M0. Bone Scan/CT Negative (Sept. 10, 2007)Oct. 17 PSA 0.07Nov. 13 PSA 0.05Casodex adm. Nov 07, Lupron beg. Dec 03, 2007 2 yrs Radiation March 03-April 22, 2008- 8 weeks 5x a weekJuly 2, 08 PSA <.02Praying for a cured dad.

Friday night games are all over, and the event was worth it. We had some coverage on Seattle Television Stations, as well as local media. Below is a link to "High School Gametime" for Western Washington, that has an article about it. While it was put together rather quickly - the organizer initially couldn't get the flags produced - I feel the whole thing was a success. Any PR will perhaps get someone else to remember to get that yearly physical, and include a PSA test.

Also, please check out TC-LasVegas' posting about the clinical trial with the University of Arizona. It's a psychological intervention trial, that could be very useful for participants and their partners. Lord knows, this beast can really effect your mental health, and getting that on the straight and narrow is sometimes as important as the physical treatment.